(1970s)-D Medal Chester A. Arthur 34mm Inaugurated 1881

Coin Details

Description

This 34mm Denver Mint presidential medal features Chester A. Arthur with the notation "Inaugurated 1881." Arthur became president upon Garfield's death and surprised virtually everyone by transforming from a corrupt machine politician into a principled reformer. He signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, prosecuted Star Route mail fraud cases, and modernized the Navy. The Denver Mint series presents Arthur alongside his presidential peers in a standardized format. Arthur's presidency is one of the most underrated in American history, as his unexpected embrace of reform represented a genuine moral transformation that alienated his former political allies while earning the grudging respect of reformers who had initially opposed his accession. Presidential campaign medals document the evolution of American political culture, from the restrained dignity of early republic elections through the exuberant spectacle of nineteenth-century campaigns to the sophisticated marketing of modern contests.

Rarity Notes

Denver Mint 34mm presidential medal, 1970s. Chester A. Arthur. Part of comprehensive presidential series.

Cross References

PCGS #922154; Denver Mint presidential medal series; Chester A. Arthur; inaugurated 1881